ReLeaf reimagines waste as a resource, encourages plant propagation, and propels traditional business waste towards greener futures through collective learning and sharing.
Membership Classes
1. Businesses with waste or surplus plants and seeds.
2. Workers who haul, transform waste, or are involved in plant propagation.
3. Investors (up to 49% ownership).
Benefits of Membership
1. Businesses: Reduction in waste and disposal costs, opportunities to earn residuals when their waste or plant surpluses are integrated into our Life Story metadata platform.
2. Workers: Fair hourly wages, opportunities for proportional residual income through Life Story metadata accompanying our components, installations, and propagated plants.
3. Investors: Scalable growth, high profits as our materials are negative cost, and unique investment opportunities in plant propagation initiatives.
Membership Requirements
1. Non-financial: Demonstrates adherence to cooperative, circular economy, and community sharing principles, including commitment to plant propagation and education.
2. Financial: $1,000 for businesses, $100 for workers. Workers have the option to pay their fee over time as a pay deduction.
Governance Rights of Membership
1. Each member gets one vote in board elections and in any other votes taken by members.
2. Members are encouraged to participate in virtual educational webinars focused on plant propagation and waste management.
3. Members are required to approve bylaw changes.
4. Members can force a special meeting for urgent educational or resource-sharing matters.
5. Members have direct oversight of cooperative leadership and educational initiatives.
Financial Rights
1. For every $100 generated in year-end profit, it will be allocated amongst members based on Life Story metadata, rewarding long-term health of installations and contributions to community education.
2. Founding members involved in plant propagation or educational initiatives will receive an extra benefit to compensate for their initial risks.
Board of Directors
1. The co-op will start with 5 directors, with representatives from all stakeholders, and 3 worker-owners.
2. The board allows room for 1-2 outside directors who specialize in plant propagation or educational community services and are non-voting.
3. The CEO attends and votes as a worker-owner and also oversees the educational initiatives.
Capital Structure/Investment
ReLeaf will seek capital through investors and grants, as well as revenue from waste hauling, subsequent horticultural supplies, plant propagation endeavors, installations, and maintenance contracts.
Obligations of Membership
Promote innovation in waste management and plant propagation, seek opportunities to convert waste and wasted space into thriving ecosystems, commit to sharing surplus educational resources and plant materials, maintain an attitude of helping one another for mutual benefit and long-term prosperity, be adaptable to local and current needs, be a listener and a storyteller.
Membership Termination
1. Voluntary Termination: A member may choose to leave the cooperative at any time by providing notice to the cooperative.
2. Involuntary Termination: If a member dishonors the cooperative's values or acts against its mission, plant propagation goals, or educational initiatives, they may be asked to leave. An impartial judicial board, separate from the board of directors, will be responsible for hearing controversies and recommending appropriate actions.
https://releaf.marigold.town/index.html